CANTO XXII. ARGUMENT. THE Poets proceed, accompanied by the Demons, who with their hooks haul up Ciampolo, one of the barterers. His clever device to escape. Battle in consequence between two of the Demons. OFT squadrons have I seen their station change, Rush to the charge, or suddenly retreat, And swift advancing o'er the country range : Thy plains, Arezzo, oft have I survey'd Hastily swept by light-arm'd horsemen fleet; 1 Oft been, where tilts and tournaments were play'd;(Now bells, now trumpets sounding forth alarms, Now drums and signals with tremendous din, But ne'er to such strange instrument of war 7 With the ten demons now our way we sped; 13 Ah! fell companions! but, "With saints at church, With gluttons at the tavern,” it is said. Still on the pitch I gazed, that I might know The secrets of the gulf by closer search, And mark the souls amid the fire below. As dolphins heave their backs above the wave, So, to alleviate the excessive pain, From time to time each sinner raised his back, Sit squatting-with their noses raised on high, But Barbariccia now approaching nigh, Quick they withdrew beneath the boiling flood. And Graffiacan, who nearest chanced to be, With grapple seized his hair all stiff with pitch: 19 25 31 (I knew the names of all the demons now, For I had mark'd them when they chosen were, And at their muster call had listen'd how.) "O Rubicant, look well, and see you place Your hooks aright, that they his back may tear," Cried all at once the inexorable race. "Master," I said, "persuade them to disclose, If so thou canst, who is that ill-starr'd shade Thus fall'n within the clutches of his foes." Thereat my leader, drawing to his side, Enquiry of his birth and country made. "Born in Navarre was I," he straight replied: "My mother placed me servant to a lord; (For she had borne me to a wicked man, Who spent his goods, then closed his life abhorr❜d.) Thibault the good I served in aftertime; And in his court to barter I began, Which now I pay for in this scalding slime." A savage tusk on either side display'd, away." 37 43 49 55 Then to my master turning, he exclaim'd: 61 "More would'st thou know? Then ask what pleaseth Ere by another fiend his form be maim'd." "Amid the other sinners," quoth my guide, "Say, know'st thou any one from Italy Beneath the pitch?" "But lately," he replied, "I quitted one who lived that country near: Could I rejoin him in yon sheltering flood, Nor piercing hook nor talon should I fear." Quoth Libicocco: "not so much delay :" An arm then seizing in his pincers rude, He maul'd it, till he rent a part away. And Draghignazzo would have lent a hook, [thee, And torn his leg; but lo! their chief turn'd round, And check'd his malice with a threatening look. When somewhat was their vehemence allay'd ;Of him who still was looking at his wound, My guide without delay enquiry made: "Who was that other spirit, from whose side Hither thou lately cam'st in evil hour?" "The Friar Gomita was it," he replied,"He of Gallura, vessel of all fraud, Who, when his master's foes were in his power, 67 73 79 Gold he received, and let his prisoners free; For them Sardinia is a subject sweet, 85 With which their tongues are never satisfied. Ah me!-lo, how that other fiend doth grin! 91 More would I say; but fear my tongue hath bound, Lest he to claw me with his hooks begin. To Farfarello turn'd their savage lord, ' Who roll'd, in act to strike, his eyes around, And said: "Go, get thee gone, ill bird abhorr'd." "Tuscans or Lombards would'st thou wish to see," 97 Again resumed the spirit thrill'd with fear, "Tell me, and I will bid them come to thee: But let the demons for awhile retreat, That so the timorous souls may reappear, And I, remaining in this very seat, To show our comrades that the coast is clear." 103. |